Black Thunder — Accidents

Total: 569 accidents | Fatalities: 4

Date Classification Injury Days Lost Narrative
02/24/2023 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 88d lost An employee slipped from the deck of a track dozer and fell between the track and the push-arm, sustaining fractures to their ribs.
10/20/2022 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None An employee was lowering a folding handrail and caught EE's ring finger in a pinch-point, resulting in an avulsion of the tip.
08/05/2022 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None A coal wall fire started from spontaneous combustion, in an inactive area of the mine property. It burned for over 30 minutes, due to difficult access.
08/04/2022 STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 85d lost An electrician was kneeling and when EE stood up EE felt knee pain. EE was assessed by doctors and released back to work. An MRI and follow up appointment were scheduled. EE was later diagnosed wit...
07/24/2022 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 45d lost A mechanic felt a pop in the knee stepping from a platform to a bull dozer. EE was diagnosed with some small meniscus tears and released back to work. EE continued to experience pain and was later s...
07/14/2022 IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST ACCIDENT ONLY None A fire occurred on a coal shovel that MSHA believes was the result of an arc flash initiating a coal dust ignition. The fire damaged a motor and a compressor.
06/30/2022 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 39d restricted Was trying to lift 75 pound bag but pulled something in lower back.
06/16/2022 DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA) OCCUPATNAL ILLNESS NOT DEG 1-6 46d lost An employee with a history of shoulder injuries began experiencing increased pain after helping pry on a dragline pin with a bar. EE continued to work and had it evaluated by a specialist on 09/19/20...
06/16/2022 MACHINERY PERM TOT OR PERM PRTL DISABLTY 4d lost Injured Employee was torqueing a CAT 795 haul truck with a RAD 34 torque gun. Injured employee received a dislocation, laceration and break to EE's right thumb when it became caught between the extens...
06/14/2022 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 91d lost The employee reported back pain and was checked and release by a doctor at a clinic. The employee continued working, but was unable to report to work on July 1 due to back pain that increased during...
06/03/2022 POWERED HAULAGE NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None A haul truck operator backed through a berm and tipped the truck over, resulting in a back injury.
04/26/2022 OTHER INJURIES DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES None Team member suffered heart attack as they were coming in to work, Team member had not yet started their shift and was walking to the office when they collapsed.
04/08/2022 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None While working in the wash bay the employee tripped and fell, resulting in a head abrasion and rib fractures.
04/07/2022 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None A large coal wall was found burning in a pit that was not currently being mined.
04/02/2022 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None In the process of moving the Rad 15 impact gun from one nut to the other, the injured employee received a fracture and laceration to EE's left ring finger when EE's finger became lodged between the Ra...
03/05/2022 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 24d lost, 3d restricted The employee felt a pop in the knee while getting into a pickup truck. EE continued to work until was diagnosed with a ruptured ACL on 3/11/22 and began losing time.
12/23/2021 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 32d restricted Employee made a right turn off the haul road to enter the site. Upon entering the site, the employee turned sharply to the right. The truck was unable to complete the turn and overturned onto the driv...
12/14/2021 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None A coal wall caught fire and took longer than 30 minutes to extinguish.
11/24/2021 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None A section of coal wall was found burning in an area of the pit that was not being mined. The fire started from spontaneous combustion and was spread by wind conditions. The fire could not be extingu...
11/08/2021 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None A technician was welding in close proximity to other welders inside a rev. frame. The light reflected off the walls behind and came in behind EE's welding hood causing EE to receive flash burn to EE's...
10/23/2021 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 98d lost Employee was preparing to drain oil from swing case of machine. Employee fell approximately 7 feet to ground sustaining multiple injuries.
09/20/2021 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 11d lost, 100d restricted Tech was moving a heavy turbo from part cart to the back of the service truck bumper. The right pinky finger was smashed in between the turbo and the bumper. Tech has a fractured pinky.
07/21/2021 MACHINERY FATALITY Fatal A Millwright drove the pins out of a 200-ton crane boom to change out a section and the boom fell on employee.
07/06/2021 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None The employee was using a handheld grinder with a cutting wheel to cut off a section of handrail, when the tool kicked back, striking EE in the lower leg, which resulted in a laceration that required s...
06/15/2021 ELECTRICAL ACCIDENT ONLY None A coal shovel caught fire following an electrical fault. The fire originated in the reactor cabinet area and burned for over the 30-minute time frame.
05/29/2021 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None A fire started on the upper area of a coal highwall from spontaneous combustion. The open pit was not being mined and it took over 30 minutes to build access to the area and extinguish the fire.
04/23/2021 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None The employee was placing a large wood block onto the fender of a forklift, when the block bounce up and pinch EE's two finger tips between the block and the forklift fender. This resulted in a tuft f...
03/25/2021 OTHER DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 22d lost The employee says: felt knee pop while walking around haul truck. The employee continued to work and did not want medical care until 05/03/2021. Employee was then evaluated and scheduled for arthros...
03/20/2021 POWERED HAULAGE PERM TOT OR PERM PRTL DISABLTY 12d restricted While using a hoist and a forklift to position a piece of machinery, the employee got EE's finger pinched between a fork and the load.
03/06/2021 POWERED HAULAGE NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None An electrician was driving a pickup and dropped a handheld radio. While picking it up they ran up on a berm and rolled the pickup over. Employee was released back to work by the doctor, but an X-ray...
01/05/2021 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Tech pinched finger between action arm and rim while removing wheel stud bolts with a rad gun on a rear inside dual of a haul truck. Injury resulted in a laceration on Techs left middle finger requir...
11/28/2020 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 32d lost, 1d restricted Employee reports EE was carrying a sample of approximately 50lbs down the stairs. EE's foot missed a step and EE fell forward.
10/10/2020 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 312d lost, 3d restricted Employee reports they were dumping approximately 30 lbs of coal on a pile with a twisting motion. Employee then felt pain. Employee informed management on 10-16-2020. Letter attached to original form...
07/11/2020 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Smoke was discovered in the 5 1/2 West coal pit at the top of the coal face. The smoke could not be extinguished in 30 minutes. No miners or mining equipment were at risk during this event.
03/18/2020 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Socket detached from air wrench and struck i.e. on RT cheek causing a laceration.
02/20/2020 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 73d lost The equipment operator tore the quadriceps muscle and patellar tendon on EE's right knee when EE missed a ladder rung dismounting the equipment. Surgery was required to repair the torn tissues.
01/22/2020 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None IE was tapping on a rear strut with a hammer when EE's hand contacted a pulling rod that was in the strut pin causing a laceration to EE's left middle finger that required 5 sutures to close.
01/05/2020 OTHER INJURIES DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES None The delivery driver was found unresponsive laying on the ground near the cab of the truck. CPR and an AED were administered by mine rescue personnel. The victim was immediately transported by ambulan...
12/28/2019 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 13d restricted An equipment operator experienced a non-displaced fracture to a bone in the right shoulder when pulling on the cab door of the electric shovel.
10/04/2019 HANDLING OF MATERIALS PERM TOT OR PERM PRTL DISABLTY 129d lost A Technician was in the process of replacing a rear strut on a 798 haul truck. As they removed the lower rear strut pin, the lower section of strut fell. This was caused by an unknown internal failure...
09/26/2019 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Smoke was discovered in the spoils between 4N & 5N. Waste coal had spontaneously caught fire and caught tumble weeds on fire as well. The fire was not extinguished in 30 minutes.
09/20/2019 OTHER INJURIES DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES 17d lost A haul truck operator began feeling ill with chest pains and shortness of breath. EE was transported to a local hospital where diagnosed with having had a mild heart attack and a blood clot. Reportin...
07/24/2019 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Smoke was discovered in the 6W coal pit at the top edge of the coal face. The smoke was not extinguished in 30 minutes. No miners or mine equipment were at risk during this event.
06/24/2019 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None A Technician was using a bar to hold the bolt into place so they could attach the nut to the end of a bolt. While screwing the nut to the bolt, the bar slipped. This caused the bolt and attached nut t...
06/07/2019 MACHINERY DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 11d restricted A millwright was using a carbon arc gouging tool to begin to remove a brass bushing when the bushing came loose and fell on the millwright's foot, fracturing the foot.
05/22/2019 OTHER INJURIES DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES 9d lost The electrician had been troubleshooting a misalignment switch at the bottom of the conveyor. When walking up the incline to exit the area they began experiencing chest pains. Electrician was transp...
05/14/2019 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 30d restricted The technician was dismounting a forklift when EE missed the bottom step and fell, landing on EE's left hand and wrist. The result was a fractured wrist.
04/29/2019 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Smoke was discovered in the 5 1/2 W coal pit at the top edge of the coal face. The smoke was not extinguished in 30 minutes. No miners or mine equipment were at risk during this event.
04/09/2019 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None Smoke was discovered in the 5W coal pit at the top edge of the coal face. The smoke was not extinguished in 30 minutes. No miners or mine equipment were at risk during this event.
03/02/2019 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 31d restricted The electrician was beginning to board the shovel when ee slipped, landing on back on a chunk of coal. The result was a fractured rib and non-treatable transverse process fractures.